A trail used for years — legally and illegally — by hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians is about to reopen to the public.

The historic Stowe Trail, a 3.4 mile-long corridor traversing Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and the Miramar area, is expected to open sometime in April. The trail links the southern edge of Goodan Ranch Sycamore Canyon Preserve to the cities of Santee and Poway.

An exact date has not been set for the opening because there are still some details that need to be taken care of, and the trail is still off-limits, said U.S. Marine Capt. Kurt Stahl, a public affairs officer.

“We don’t want anybody getting out there prematurely,” Stahl said. “We have to protect the integrity of the boundaries on the base.”

A permitting process, including background checks, is being developed by the Marine Corps and will be required annually. Details are expected to be announced soon.

This month, community volunteers will work alongside Marines moving brush to block off arterial routes that will be decommissioned, getting the designated trail ready for use.

The trail between Goodan Ranch and Santee was identified as a survey road by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors back in 1886. Then, the Stowe Trail was a vital transportation link connecting Poway to Santee and El Cajon.

Decades ago, the military absorbed the section of the trail, cutting off legal access. But an agreement by several entities, spearheaded by county Supervisor Dianne Jacob, has finally resolved the land-use issues.

“Opening up this historic trail to the community represents a huge victory for the public, including those of us who have fought for access for decades,” Jacob said.

Susie Murphy, executive director of the San Diego Mountain Biking Association, said other local elected officials also took up the cause, including Congressman Duncan Hunter, Congressman Scott Peters, San Diego City Councilman Scott Sherman and Santee Councilman Brian Jones.

Jones and the Santee City Council last week gave the final approval necessary for the creation and opening of a temporary easement to allow access to the trail.

The trail temporarily will start at the north side of Fanita Parkway at Ganley Road, head north and follow the western property line belonging to HomeFed.

Community Services Director Bill Maertz said that the HomeFed easement won’t be needed once the Castlerock development across from West Hills High opens. A trailhead will be open on its premises.

Grading for Castlerock began last July but an opening date for the development is still unknown.

Maertz noted that the east side of the military base includes gun ranges where more than 9,000 Marines go for annual rifle and pistol qualifications.

Signs will be placed along the trail to keep people safely within legal boundaries. Other arterial trails will be closed, said Kevin Loomis, president of the board of directors of the mountain biking association.

“This is one of the most exciting things we have on our plate,” Loomis told the Santee City Council.

Loomis likened the trail opening to a vertabra — “the C-4 in the back” — and said the Stowe Trail “connects everything.”

He was one of several mountain bikers who thanked the city of Santee for its part in getting the trail reopened.

For years, people traversed the trails without issue, but things changed in 1997 when the Marines took over Miramar Naval Air Station. "No Trespassing" signs were erected on a section of the trail that crosses the base's eastern edge, and the Marines began patrolling it to keep people out.

During a weekend in January 2016, Marines issued tickets to 50 people for trespassing on federal land and impounded 45 bikes and three motorcycles.

“This deal will actually make it a possibility for cyclists, trail runners, hikers and equestrians who live (in those areas) to to get to their property legally for the first time,” cyclist Gardner Grady said. “I look forward to being on that trail once again.”